Alex, with his right hand in his hoodie pocket and his other hand holding onto the bag of meat, was trying to figure out how he was going to eat the food.
'I definitely need to cook the food; otherwise, I'm sure I'll get food poisoning. Actually, can I even get food poisoning with this body? I'd rather not risk it since I want to do the hunter test as soon as possible,' Alex thought.
As Alex walked, pondering how to handle the meat, he remembered a survival show he had watched once. The host mentioned that cooking rotten meat required high heat to kill harmful bacteria.
The key was to cook it thoroughly, ensuring that no part of the meat remained undercooked.
Alex's thoughts then turned to where and how he could cook the meat. He didn't have access to a proper kitchen but recalled seeing a public grill area in a park near his apartment building.
It was a risk to cook there, with the chance of drawing unwanted attention, but it seemed like his best option.
He also remembered from the Survival show that acidic ingredients could help neutralize some of the bad flavours of spoiled meat.
If he could find some wild berries or even scavenge some vinegar or lemon, it might make the meal more edible. But he quickly discarded that idea; he just wanted to get over with it.
As he walked towards the park, he mentally prepared himself. He knew this wasn't going to be a pleasant meal, but it was a necessary step in his survival. It was a test of his resolve, a challenge he had to face head-on. Alex was now 10 and half years old, he's been through worse.
Approaching the public grill, Alex scanned the area. It was early in the day, and thankfully, the park was mostly empty.
He quickly started a fire, using some old newspapers and twigs he found nearby. As the fire grew stronger, he skewered half of the meat on a stick he had sharpened using a kitchen knife he took from his apartment and hid in his hoodie.
Holding the meat over the flames, Alex turned it slowly, ensuring every part was exposed to the heat.
The smell was unpleasant, but he focused on the task at hand. He knew that this was more than just about satisfying his hunger; it was about adapting to his new life, where he had to rely on his instincts and skills.
He cautiously took a small bite after he was confident the meat was thoroughly cooked. The flavour was far from ideal, but it was edible.
Eating as quickly as possible, worried that the smell would attract the homeless, Alex contemplated his next moves. He needed to pass the Hunter's Trial, find better food sources, and continue exploring the capabilities and mysteries of his transformed body.
As he finished his meal, Alex couldn't help but feel a bit like a culinary superhero. Despite the odds, he had managed to turn a potentially harmful situation into something... well, let's just say "less harmful."
With renewed determination, he packed up and strutted toward the Hunter's Guild, ready to take on the next challenge. But then, his stomach started rumbling, and not in an 'I'm hungry' kind of way, more of a 'what on earth did you just feed me' way.
Within moments, he felt a wave of nausea. He knew what was coming… Sprinting with all the grace of a startled gazelle, he found refuge behind a tree and unleashed the fury of his stomach.
Once the deed was done, he covered the unsightly mess with leaves and walked away nonchalantly, as if he had just been admiring the tree's bark.
Thankfully, no one was around to witness this less-than-heroic moment.
Returning to his makeshift kitchen with a puzzled and slightly green expression, Alex pondered,
'What the heck is going on? Can't I even eat cooked meat? Was it because it was off? But my body seemed to crave it...' It was then that a horrifying thought struck him, making him gag slightly.
'Oh no, this must be some twisted joke. Please don't tell me my body wants the meat raw..."
The very idea made him shudder. Yes, it seemed his new, peculiar body was lobbying for a diet straight out of a wilderness survival show - no cooking required.
After the unfortunate regurgitation episode, Alex knew what he had to do, even though every fibre of his being screamed, "Please, no!"
With the grace of a scavenger and the appetite of a zombie from his game, Alex found himself on a new mission: to find the perfect hideout to consume his dubious feast.
He scoured the streets of Greenhaven, seeking a spot discreet enough for his... let's call it a 'unique' dining experience.
Eventually, he stumbled upon an abandoned alleyway, the kind where even rats would think twice before dining.
"Five-star ambiance," Alex muttered sarcastically, looking around at the graffiti-laden walls and the questionable puddles on the ground.
With a deep sigh, he sat down, leaning against a wall that had seen better days, and looked at the meat. It was a sorry sight – discoloured, a bit slimy, and emitting a smell that could only be described as 'Eau de decay.'
Holding his breath and trying to forget every cooking show he'd ever seen, Alex took a bite. His face contorted into an expression of sheer disgust mixed with the determination of a hungry alley cat.
As he chewed the uncooked, rotten meat, he couldn't help but think, 'This must be what a dare on a survival show feels like – except there are no cameras, no prize money, and certainly no applause at the end.'
Every bite was a battle, and with each swallow, he felt like he was inching closer to becoming a character in a horror movie.
Finishing his grotesque meal, Alex lay back against the wall, wondering if this was what rock bottom tasted like. He whispered to himself, 'Gourmet dining at its finest. Chef Alex, specializing in pre-spoiled cuisine.'
He couldn't help but let out a dry laugh, finding a bit of humour in his grim situation.
After making that joke, an odd sensation pulsed through his body. His heart, which had been eerily still since his transformation, began to thud against his chest like a drum of war. It was a powerful, almost overwhelming sensation.
His blood vessels dilated, welcoming a surge of blood with an intensity that felt like a storm raging within him.
A wave of euphoria swept over him, so intense and consuming that it felt otherworldly.
As this torrent of sensations peaked, Alex's vision blurred. The world spun around him, a kaleidoscope of colours and sounds swirling into a vortex.
He could feel every cell in his body vibrating, alive with a newfound energy, an exhilarating and terrifying power.
His legs buckled, no longer able to support him, and he slumped to the ground, the rough concrete of the alley a stark contrast to the transcendent experience coursing through him.
As he slipped into unconsciousness, the last thing he felt was a sense of transformation, of evolving into something more.
In the shadowed alley, unknown to the unconscious Alex, his body began to change. His muscles, mainly his lower thighs and legs, subtly redefined themselves;
he did not realize that this overwhelming experience marked his first true metamorphosis. He had just levelled up.